Scott posted about the WASD Keyboards CODE with Cherry MX Clear switches but until now we have not found a review of this keyboard. The Tech Report has changed that with this review which takes a look at the new type of switch which sits between the Brown and the Green, Clear switches need more force to bottom out that a Brown but not as much as the clicky style Green switches. That is not all this tenkeyless board offers, there are LEDs that can be activated by the dip switches in the recess found on the back of the keyboard. In fact those dip switches can do more than just enable a nice glow, you can disable the Windows key or even immediately switch to different layouts such as Mac, Dvorak, and Colemak though sadly they left Sinclair ZX off of the list. If this type of switch interests your fingers and you are willing to spend $150 on a keyboard check out the full review here.

"We've been meaning to try out Cherry MX's clear key switches for a while, and now, we've finally gotten our wish. Join us for a look at WASD Keyboards' Cherry MX clear-infused Code keyboard, a tenkeyless offering with more than a few tricks up its sleeve."

The CODE is the product, literally, of a collaboration between Stack Overflow co-founder Jeff Atwood and Weyman Kwong of WASD Keyboards. I recognize the tongue-in-cheek humor and I acknowledge that the team are clearly (that was not a Cherry MX switch pun... that I would admit to) well suited to the challenge of designing a keyboard for programmers.

Before we run through the opinion, its key touted perks are:

Cherry MX Clear switches

Similar to Cherry MX Brown with much more resistance. Hard to bottom out.

DIP switches to customize functionality without software.

White LED backlighting

Very stable rubberized ergonomic flaps and angled pads.

Detachable Micro USB cable

The thing is, WASD Keyboards already allows users to purchase customized keyboards. As far as I can tell, the CODE is just a variant of the existing WASD V2 104-key Custom Mechanical Keyboard with white backlighting. Both Keyboards are priced at $149.99. The CODE limits your choice but provides you with the illuminated keys and the MX Clear switches, normally a $10 upgrade, in exchange for just taking what you are offered without question. Okay, you can ask for a 104-Key or an 87-Key version, so one question is allowed. Still, the CODE is a good value; as I mentioned, you basically get free key lighting and a free upgrade to Cherry MX Clear.

But it is still not an epiphany for mechanical keyboard lovers.

At one point, I hoped to take some time for a hobby and modify a mechanical keyboard to fit my specifications. I envisioned an aluminum body enclosing solidly built buckle-spring keys. I did not know about Cherry MX Green switches at the time. For keycaps, I imagined two pieces of glass sandwiching a translucent white plastic sheet masked with a black symbol for each letter. I figure the feel of glass would be more pleasing to the fingers than warm plastic. Each key would, of course, be let from underneath with a soft white (blue-doped-white) LED. Each translucent sheet would softly diffuse the light except for the shadow of whatever characters the key represents.

That would be a revolution... for me. I think I would like the feel of cool glass under my fingers.

So I guess I leave the post with a question for the viewers: What would your "perfect" keyboard be?